MEMBERS OF HOUSE AND "SPECIALS,"

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14823, 14 November 1913, Page 9

MEMBERS OF HOUSE AND "SPECIALS,"

AN INCIDENT ON THE WHARF.

ALLEGATION AGAINST A

MEMBER.

faPECTAI. TO "THK PRESS.") WELLINGTON, November 13. A considerable time was taken up in the House of Representatives this afternoon in discussing instances in nnich members of Parliament not possessing "special" passes have been prevented by the special constables from going on the wharves during the past few d<aye. Yesterday Mr Escott asked the Government the. following question :— "Whether any complaint has reached the Government to the effect that a member of the House of Representatives had used insulting language towards Sergeant-Major Young, of the F Squadron, on the afternoon of ±>ovember sth, and if so, does the Government intend to take any action in the matter?" The Prime Minister replied as follows: —"No direct complaint has yet reached the Justice Department, but if the honourable gentleman will supply; particulare of the occurrence the mat-j ter will be investigated." During this afternoon's discussion the matter was brought up by Mr Pearce, who mentioned the name of the member concerned. He . (Mr Pearce) said that the member for Waimarino (Mr R. W. Smith) had insulted a special constable by calling him "a b b —-." (Uproar and cries of "Order I") Mr Hindmarsh: You ought to be ashamed of yourself. (Uproar.) The hon. member for Waimarino has denied the- statement, and . his denial should be accepted. Mr Speaker: If the hon. member denies it, his denial must be accepted. Mr Pearce: But has it been denied? Mr Hindmarsh: Hβ has denied it to mc. Mr Pearce: It has not been denied in the House.

Mr Smith who was out of the House when the discussion started entered the Chamber at this stage amidst Opposition cries of "Here he is; let's hear what he says."

Mr Hindmarsh, referring again to Mr Pearce's statement, used the terms "disgrace to the House." The Prime Minister asked whether such language was to be permitted. Mr Speaker said? "No," and that if there was farther disorder steps would have to be taken to ensure its discon? tinu&nce. Mr Pearce repeated the allegation as told to him in regard to the language used by Mr Smith, and said that the incident took place in one of the sheds, and that Mr Smith was put out of the shed, because he made tho statement. This was the reason why the special constables had prevented certain members of Parliament from going on the wharves.

Mr Escott said that he had tha names of a number of troopers who witnessed the occurrence, and were willing to give evidence. He thought the matter should bo enquired into. Mr Smith gave the statement that ho had used the expression referred to an absolute denial. He eaid he thought it would hare been much better if Mr Escott and Mr Pearce had obtained his version of the affair beforo bringing the matter up in the House. (Hear, hear.) The occurrence did not take place on the wharf, but near it. He stated that a "special" constable was standing over him with a baton, and that' he refused to xrat down the weapon when ho asked him to do so. Ho (Mr Smith) then said "You should not attack a reputable citizen in such a dastardly way." Whilst ther wero arguing another "special." well known to him. came up and he (Mr Smith) remarked to him, "lam not going to be bullied by a dastard like this>"

(Laughter.) The "special" then charged Jmn with calling him a "b—, "Hβ (Mr Smith) then denied that he had used that word, but the "special" hustled him out of the gate and closed it behind him. Mr Smith then gave the dictionary definition of tho word "dastard, which he had since looked «„. (Laughtor.) Mr Escott said that he accepted the explanation of Mr Smith, but in view of the meaning of "dastard" he thought he had got off lucky. (Laugh-

Sir Joseph Ward 'said that he had I been m Parliament for 26 years, and this day ho had felt more humiliated than ever before. It was the most de-; graded and disgusting condition of things that he Had ever seen in this House. They had got to the position now that some members upon one side of the House regarded it as part of their duty to carry tales about their brother members arid repeat hearsay statements of the lowest possible kind. No road board in the.country would have lowered itself to the position that Parliament had reached that afternoon. The debate arose out of a statement by Mr Robertson that Colonel acting-Commandant of tho Territorials, had given orders to "special" constables on duty at the wharves. This, however, wa« emphatically denied by Colonel Heard.